New CFO for Coca-Cola Company

February 20, 2014

The Coca-Cola Company EVP and CFO Gary P. Fayard plans to retire in May, after 20 years of service with the company. Filling the role will be Kathy N. Waller. She will be elected CFO at the company’s April board meeting.

Fayard joined Coca-Cola in 1994 as VP and controller and was promoted in 1999 to SVP and CFO. In 2003, Fayard was promoted to his current role of EVP and CFO, where he is responsible for leading the company’s global finance organization, overseeing mergers and acquisitions, investor relations, tax, treasury, audit, accounting and controls, financial reporting, real estate and risk management. In this role, he also serves as management representative for the Finance, Audit and Compensation Committees for the board of directors.

During Fayard’s tenure as CFO, revenues of the company have more than doubled to $47 billion in 2013, and the company completed the $12 billion acquisition of Coca-Cola Enterprises’ North America business, the largest acquisition in its history.

Prior to joining Coca-Cola, Fayard served 19 years with Ernst & Young, concluding his service there as a partner. He received his degree from the University of Alabama College of Commerce and Business Administration.

“Gary’s deep experience across the financial spectrum combined with his passion for our business and his people have contributed significantly to the success of our company,” said Muhtar Kent, chairman and CEO. “Gary will leave a legacy of financial strength across the global organization, and the successful development of leaders who will now steward the growth of our system. He has been my trusted adviser, providing leadership, guidance and, importantly, a dry wit. I feel fortunate to have had a leader such as Gary as our CFO and as my colleague through the years. We wish Gary and his family all the best in his retirement.”

Waller currently serves as VP, finance and controller. She joined the company in 1987 as a senior accountant in the accounting research department and soon became principal accountant for the Northeast Europe/Africa Group, followed by marketing controller for the McDonald's group. Since then, she has taken on a number of roles of increasing responsibility, including financial services manager for the Minute Maid Company and corporate director of financial reporting. In 2004, Waller was named VP and chief of internal audit, managing worldwide internal audit processes, with key responsibilities for the company's compliance with Sarbanes-Oxley requirements and corporate governance matters.

In 2009, Waller was named VP and controller, a role that was expanded in 2013 to VP, finance and controller, adding global accountability for corporate treasury, corporate tax and finance capabilities.

“Kathy brings more than 25 years of experience with the company and a passion for leading teams and developing talent. Since 2009, she has led the controller’s group in an increasingly complex regulatory environment while also improving our internal management reporting and analytics,” said Fayard. “Kathy’s expertise and deep experience with the company make her a perfect fit for this key leadership role and the expansion of her responsibilities throughout the past year will allow for a seamless transition.”

In addition to her role in finance, Waller also leads the Coca-Cola Company’s Women’s Leadership Council and helped develop its Women in Leadership global program. Kathy also serves on the advisory board of Catalyst, a leading nonprofit organization with a mission to expand opportunities for women and business.

“Kathy brings to this role comprehensive knowledge of our system and strong global financial expertise,” said Kent. “I have been fortunate to work closely with her for several years, and have seen her wise counsel, passion and integrity in action across our system. I have great confidence in her appointment to this role. I wish her the very best of success and look forward to her continued leadership.”

Prior to joining the Coca-Cola Company, Waller worked for Deloitte. She received her bachelor's and MBA degrees from the University of Rochester in New York. As CFO, she will report directly to Kent.

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